Rating: 
Summary: A great look...
Review: ...into a fabulous piece of cinema. This collection really assembles the best of all the tools for understanding Japanese cinema in general, and Akira Kurasawa in particular, good, comprehensible subs, expert commentary, and other extras. RAN is my second favorite Kurasawa film, and the presentation here really enriched my viewing of the film. I read Prince's book, THE WARRIOR'S CAMERA, but his commentary really opened up new windows into the film and its brilliant director. Granted, greater care could have been taken to protect the discs. Mine did arrive a little worse for the wear.
Rating:
Summary: A great look...
Review: ...into a fabulous piece of cinema. This collection really assembles the best of all the tools for understanding Japanese cinema in general, and Akira Kurasawa in particular, good, comprehensible subs, expert commentary, and other extras. RAN is my second favorite Kurasawa film, and the presentation here really enriched my viewing of the film. I read Prince's book, THE WARRIOR'S CAMERA, but his commentary really opened up new windows into the film and its brilliant director. Granted, greater care could have been taken to protect the discs. Mine did arrive a little worse for the wear.
Rating: 
Summary: From a collector's POV
Review: As a collector who seeks value investments, this is an item I have already ordered (2 copies of) in anticipation of the investment growth potential. As a film buff, I have long awaited a high def anamorphic transfer of Ran, one of my fav films of all time. The low number of this Limited Edition run makes this an incredible buy, considering that the disks alone are likely valued at near or around [high amount] by themselves. Add to this the included collectibles (photos, poster, etc), and the decision to buy is a slam dunk for me. I saw the Kurosawa doc on PBS last month, and for Kurosawa fans it's a "must see" for sure. I had planned on buying the doc by itself, but then I saw this listing. Madadayo, Kurosawa's last film, may not be his best, but it totally worth owning.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a great value
Review: First, let me set forth what is good about this set. It comes in a great looking box. The remastering of Ran (which is the real reason most will buy it) brings out the sound wonderfully, giving it a dimension that it previously lacked in home video formats.
Now for its' shortcomings. That beautiful box will not fit on your storage shelves with the rest of your DVDs. It is a poorly bundled package. The two DVDs accompanying Ran have been readily available in acceptable quality DVDs for some time. How much more exciting if it had included, instead, Dreams and Do Des Ke Den with the missing 40 minutes or so of footage.
The remastering of Ran is only partly what one would hope. It has a bleary look, especially in the opening scenes and, overall, looks no better that nay DVD ought to. True earlier versions on both the Hong Kong and domestic DVD release are awful to the point of being unwatchable and one of the VHS versions was awful, too. There was an earlier VHS version (by Criterion?) that looked as good as this DVD. Worse yet, my hopes that the new DVD would include footage cut since the original theatrical release were dashed completely. In fact it has been shortened even more! The once sky darkening arrow salvos that were so stunning originaly and then shortened in later releases are gone completely now as the 3rd castle is besieged. The opening shot of Lord Hidetore's face as he rides in the boar hunt is shortened too, I believe.
Would I buy it again? I guess so. Would I sell it in a heartbeat if a restored Criterion release were available? You bet!
Rating:
Summary: [Bad] packagine
Review: Great transfer on Ran. Great features and extras all around. Sadly, very little thought went into actually packaging it so that the discs would not move freely in the large case. I've seen five boxes opened. Four had discs damaged beyond use. Sad. The fifth was undamaged though the discs were not in their holders upon arrival.
Rating: 
Summary: Can this possibly be worth the money?
Review: I am glad that Wellspring/Winstar has gone through the effort of remastering Ran. Their previous release of it was atrocious (a quick look at the reviews on Amazon should verify this). However, despite the fact that it is anamorphic, I am doubtful that the image quality will be that good. I have yet to see a high quality dvd from Wellspring (their anamorphic transfers are the only ones I've seen that look terrible), which is unfortunate, because they release so many fantastic films. Assuming the transfer on the Ran disc is substantially better than the previous one, but still less than great, for lovers of the film it merits purchase--but not as part of this collector's set! You can be sure that the Ran dvd will be released separately and soon, because no company would remaster a title only to release 5,000 copies (or if they did, the remastered transfer must truly [be bad]). As for Madadayo, there is no indication that the film has been remastered. It is mentioned that the collection contains "Full-screen and widescreen anamorphic formats", but I imagine that this is an error, because the dvd of Madadayo currently available is neither full-screen nor anamorphic, and if Wellspring had done an anamorphic remaster of the title, you can be sure that it would be touted with great fanfare (as is the case with the Ran disc here). If this is not a remaster, then you will have a thoroughly mediocre transfer of Madadayo (perhaps your second copy). If you want this film, I recommend buying it separately I can't comment on the documentary, since I haven't seen it, but it is also available separately. This leaves us to consider the items that are only available in this box set: the mini-poster, the little shoji, the four 4" x 6" photographs, the booklet, the er. . . "certificate of authenticity", and the packaging itself. I doubt the booklet is worth mentioning, but it's likely to be the most interesting aspect of the collection (photos and mini-poster are simply icing, and probably not worth paying even five bucks for). These bonus items are all just gimmicks. Particularly the certificate of authenticity: what is authentic here? is the little shoji an authentic little japanese shoji? are the dvds authentic dvds? Ridiculous. The films themselves are excellent, but you don't need me to tell you that. If you haven't seen them you should (though I find it strange that anyone not having seen these films would consider buying an expensive collector's edition of them). In conclusion: don't waste your money on this product. It has been manufactured with no care for the films themselves, and it is simply an attempt to seduce fans of the films with the words "limited edition", "masterworks edition", and "kurosawa collection". Buy the dvds separately, and save your money. P.S. ....
Rating:
Summary: Satistied with "Ran"
Review: I found the Fox-Lorber version of "Ran" deeply disappointing, but this newly restored version is really satisfactory. Visually stunning and sounds very clear. I am also happy that what I got with the disks isn't actually a "shoji," which is made of wood and white paper, but a "byobu," an ornamental partition, with images from "Ran." This can stay in my living room.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Set, yet disappointing.
Review: I just got this set in the mail and am pleasantly surprised. Sure the fluff is nice but uneccesary. And the addition of Kurosawa is nice. But for eighty-four dollars couldn't more have been done with Madadayo, not just re-hash the old DVD for a collectors set. Better yet release a film that hasn't found its way to DVD yet, Perhaps Dreams, or Rhapsody in August. An even greater idea would have been to release this with Kagemusha a film I still await on DVD. But I must admit again that the fluff is nice, and the documentary is amazing. For an added bonus the documentary disc has commercials Kurosawa directed for Suntory whiskey hidden throughout the disc. I just wish something new had been added to this set.
Rating:
Summary: Finally, a print worthy of such a masterpiece!
Review: I own the Fox-Lorber/Winstar DVD of this immortal classic, and as much as I love the film (one of the truly great movies), I have always been disappointed with the film's hideous transfer. The extraordinary detail, the fine use of color--all subdued by the bad print. Now, that crime has been rectified. But is this worth the expense? Well, yes and no. You DO get a glorious DVD of "Ran," an incredible and epic film, and as a most welcome bonus, you also get "Madadayo," Master Kurosawa's last film, a moving, beautifully realized story of an aged professor who looks back at his life. The title comes from the professor's exclamation at each birthday party--"Madadayo!" (Not yet! I am not done with life yet!) It is exquisitely filmed, and achingly poignant-- a fine finish to the career of one of the greatest of filmmakers. The third disc contains an engrossing documentary on the late Kurosawa, with insight from many of those who knew him best. It is a revealing look at a man who was internationally recognized abroad, yet sometimes forgotten at home. BUT, one gets the impression that this package may be exploitive of Kurosawa fans and film buffs. (My rating of four stars = Five for the films and documentary, three for the extras).The added extras--such as the booklet and shoji screen print, and the certificate of authenticity--strike me as merely lures for consumers who see "special edition" and think that something wonderful is in the works. One can get the two DVDs (granted, with lesser print quality) separate for much less than the cost of this whole set, and if you want the documentary from the third disc, watch for it on PBS (where I caught it). I think it may also be available for purchase. However, I must say this: The new print of "Ran" is a vast improvement over the old version, and for those who are major fans of Kurosawa, this package may be worth the cost. Do bear in mind that there is the possibility that this new print of "Ran" may be issued separately at a later date.
Rating:
Summary: Great movies, lousy presentation.
Review: I purchased this box set as a way to dip my toes more deeply into the ocean that is Kurosawa's work. I own and love the Criterion "Seven Samurai" DVD, and so awaited this set with anticipation. It didn't disappoint! I think I'd seen "Ran," but it had been long enough that seeing it again it was like a new movie. The "Ran" DVD is stunning in all its restored splendor, and the story is emotionally gripping. Full of symbolism and compelling performances, I recommend this set for just this movie alone, but in addition, "Madadayo" and "Kurosawa" are both included. Neither is in anamorphic, but they are worthy additions to the set in any case. I'd never seen "Madadayo" and I'm happy to report it's a wonderful movie. It's a character study with a depth and personal warmth that radiates from the movie in waves. The performances are so natural and unassuming, you forget it's a fictional movie, and not a video journal of a real person. "Kurosawa" is an in-depth documentary on the man and his works. It's great stuff!
Last, the only downside to the package is the packaging itself. The DVD's are not held on their spindles well at all. One of mine had fallen off ("Ran") but thankfully had not taken any damage. I wish they'd taken more care with that. The included booklet, screen, and postcards are a nice touch, but I'd have been happy with just the DVD's, frankly, and in a much simpler case. Still, overall I recommend this to film fans and especially Kurosawa fans.
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